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No. s||,s5s. Patented Sept. 27, I898.

J. c. coummzv.

CORN PLANTER.

(Application filed June 15, 1897.)

(No Model 6 Sheets-Sheet I.

TH: cams wrrzns co, Pmma-umovv WASHINGTON. u. c.

N0. 6|I,356. I Patented Sept. 27, I898.

' J. C. COURTNEY.

0mm PLANTER.

(Application filed June 15, 1897.)

. Patented Sept. 27, I898. J. C. COURTNEY.

N0. 6Il,356.

CORN PLANTER.

(Application filed June 15 1897.

s Sheet-Sheet 3.

ma nonms PETERS co, Pno'ro-uwoj. WASHANGTOM 0.1:.

Patented Sept. 27, I898. J. 0. COURTNEY.

CORN PLANTER.

(Application filed June 15. 1897.)

6 SheetsSheet 4.

(No Model.)

g 5 gih zsses m: NORRIS wanna :0. Pnoruumn. WASHINGTCN, n. c.

Patented Sept. 27, I898.

J. c. COURTNEY,

CORN PLANTER.'

(Application filed June 15, 1897.

6 SheetsSheet 5.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT FMCE.

JOHN C. COURTNEY, OF STREATOR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOFAWVCETTPLUMB, SAME PLACE. l

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 61 1,3 56, datedSeptember 27, 1898.

Application filed June 15,1897. Serial No. 640,892. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN C. COURTNEY, a resident of Streator, in thecounty of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Corn-Planters and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in corn-planters, and moreparticularly to checkrow planters, one object of the invention being toso construct the machine that the main frame shall be composed of asingle piece of metal and so that said frame shall be balanced on theaxle.

A further object is to provide a simple, continuous, and positivecheck-rower.

A further object is to provide simple and efficient means for supportingand operating the shaft which transmits motion to the perforateddropping-disk.

A further object is to provide a check-row corn-planter with efficientmeans for causing the machine to operate as a drill.

A further object is to so construct the seedbox as to keep the weightofthe grain (corn) from unduly pressing on the dropping-plate when saidbox is full of corn.

A further obj ect is to produce a corn-planter which shall becomparatively simple in construction, accurate in operation, andeffectual in all respects in the performance of its functions.

A further object is to so construct a cornplanter that the leg or bootthrough which the corn passes can be disposed under the axle, or nearlyso, and to provide suitable devices (connected with the leg or boot) forcovering the planted corn.

A further object is to so construct a corn planter that the leg or bootcan be located under or nearly under the axle and at the same time bepermitted to be adjusted ver tic-ally with respect to the ground.

A further object is to construct the frame of a corn-planter so as toavoid the jointed arrangements heretofore employed between the part ofthe frame which supports the 3 is an elevation with parts removed. Figs.

4, 5,6, and 7 are detail views of portions of the dropping or feedingmechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail view of devices for operating the drillmechanism. Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views showing the arrangement ofthe coveringdevices. Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are detail viewsillustrating the check-rower devices. Fig. 16 is a detail view showingthe arrangement of valves in the legs of the machine.

A represents the main frame of the machine and is made of a single pieceof angle-iron and preferably of a general rectangular form, comprisingside bars to CL, an end or crossbar b, and forwardly-projectingconverging bars 0, the latter terminating in parallel arms cl, which aresecured to the tongue 13 of the machine. The tongue B projects somedistance within the main frame A and is secured to the axle O of themachine. Bars f, of angleiron, are disposed parallel with the side barsa of the frame a short distance inwardly therefrom and are securelybolted at their endsto the rear cross-bar b and the front bars 0. To theunderside of the bars f and the side bars a at points in rear of thecenter of frame A the axle O is secured, said axle projecting a suitabledistance beyond the frame to accommodate the carrying-wheels O.

A drivers seat E is located over the rear end of the frame and supportedby standards g h, the bar g being secured at its lower end to located inclose proximity to the axle slightly in advance of the same and betweenthe carrying-wheels O, the lower ends of said legs terminating normallyalmost directly under the axle. Each leg comprises a body portion 1,which constitutes the seed-tube, and a furrow-opener 2, having anupwardly-projecting portion 3, which telescopes over the body portion 1.The upper end of the body portion 1 of each leg F terminates between thebars cf of the frame at the respective sides thereof and are providedwith lateral flanges 4 4, which lie upon and are bolted to said bars.These flanges serve (in part) to support the seed-hopper 5 and thefeeding mechanism located under the same. The hoppers and feed mechanismare further supportedby arms 7, projecting forwardly from the legs.

The feed mechanism employed will preferably be that for which LettersPatent were granted to me February 19, 1895, and designated by No.534,361. In order to prevent the Weight of the corn in the hopper fromunduly pressing upon the perforated plate of the feeding mechanism,especially when said hopper is full, and thusaffecting the accurateoperation of said mechanism, I provide the hopper a short distance aboveits lower end with a false bottom '5, which is dishshaped or inclinedtoward its center, where it is provided with an opening j, through whichthe corn will gradually flow. In this manner the weight of the main bodyof grain within the hopper will be kept off of the feeding mechanism anda shallow and uniform depth of corn will be maintained in the chamberunder the false bottom and on the feed mechanism, and consequentlyinsuring a uniformity of pressure on the feed mechanism and the free andaccurate operation of the latter.

Each leg is provided at a point between its ends with an arm 8,preferably curved downwardly at its free end. Each furrow-opener is madewith an extension 8', which projects forwardly and upwardly and at itsextremity is pivotally connected to the free end of arm 8. Thefurrow-opener 2 (lower part of the leg F) can thus be swung in the arcof a circle on its pivotal connection with the arm 8 and made to movemore or less over the body portion 1 of the leg, thus permitting thefurrow-opener to be adjusted for the desired depth of furrow or to beraised entirely out of the ground. Each arm 8 and the portion 1, fromwhich it projects, is braced by means of a rod or brace 9, attached atone end to said arm 8 and secured at the other end to a transverse bar10 of the frame, and each fur row-opener is braced by means of a bar 11.

Curved brackets 11 are secured to the telescopic section (furrow-opener)3 of each leg F and project rearwardly therefrom. Between the free endsof the brackets 11 one end of an arm 12 is attached, and from the freeend of said arm inclined pintles 13 project laterally. On these pintlescovering-disks 14 are mounted so as to be closest together where theyengage the ground. The ends of each pintle or axle 13 are connected withthe lower telescopic section of the leg by means of adjustable bars 15,one end of each of which is made with an elongated slot 16 to receive alug 17, projecting from said telescopic sections 1 to 3. By arrangingthe covering-disks as above described the soil will be properly thrownover the seed without running over the planted row, thus avoiding unduepacking of wet soil, and the corn will be covered with loose earth,which is a decidedly better way of covering it. By attaching thecovering-disks in the manner above explained they can be readilyadjusted to cover the grain to any desired depth.

A shaft 18, having crank-arms 10 at its respective ends, is mounted inbrackets 20, depending from the framework, and said crankarms areconnected with the lower telescopic section 3 of the leg by means oflinks 21. A lever 22 is secured to the crank-shaft 18 and provided witha locking-bar 23, adapted to engage a notched segment 24:, secured tothe framework. By means. of the lever 22 the furrow-openers 2 can beraised or lowered to adjust them to any desired depth of furrow or toraise them entirely out of the ground, as shown in Fig. 3. Thecovering-disks being carried by the furrow-openers 2, they will beraised or lowered therewith when the lever 22 is operated.

The arms 7, which project from the upper sections of the legs F, aremade with bearings 25 for the accommodation of a shaft 26, hav- V ing abeveled gear 27 at its ends for transmitting motion to the feedingmechanism. The operating-shaft 26 is further supported by bearing-blocks28, secured to the side bars of the frame A.

The feed mechanism can be operated intermittingly when the machine is tobe used as a check-row planter by imparting an intermitting orstep-by-step motion to the operating-shaft 26, or said feed mechanismcan be operated continuously when the machine is to be employed as adrill by imparting a continuous motion to said operating-shaft. I willfirst explain in detail the construction and operation of the check-rowdevices and then explain the mechanism whereby the feed mechanism can begiven a continuous operation for the purpose of drilling.

The transverse bar 10 of the framework is provided with lateralextensions 29,to the end of each of which one end of a bar 30 issecured. The other ends of the bars 30, after having been bent at rightangles, are secured to the respective ends of the axle C, said bars 30and the projecting ends 29 of the transverse bar 10 thus constitutinglateral frames or brackets, which are utilized for supporting thecheck-row mechanism G, and these being identical in construction adetail description of one will suffice for both. The base-plate 31 ofthe check-rower is secured to the bar 30 of the lateral bracket, andfrom IIO said plate 31 arms 32 project outwardly. The arms 32 areprovided at their outer ends with perforated lugs 33, and similarperforated lugs 34 project from sheave-plates 35, the latter beingconnected together by an integral web or brace 36. A rod 37 passesthrough the perforated lugs 33 34, and thus hinges the sheave-plates tothe arms 32. Sheaves 38 are mounted on pintles projecting from theplates 35, and the latter are maintained normally in their workingposition by means of a latch 39, attached to one of the arms 32 andadapted to engage a lug 40, projecting from one of the sheave-plates,said latch being provided with an arm 41, to which a suit able devicecan be attached, whereby the driver will be enabled to withdraw thelatch and thus permit the sheave-plate and parts attached thereto toswing out of engagement with the knotted check-row wire 42.

Projecting upwardly from sheave-plates on 7 each side of the sheaves arevertical guides 43, which hold the wire 42 in contact with the sheaves.

A segm ental'block 44 is secured to the baseplate 31 of the check-rowerand to said block. The check-rower lever 45 is pivoted and limited inits movements by means of stops 46, projecting from said block. Thelever 45 is provided with fingers 47, between which the check-wire 42passes, and the ends of said fingers are curved or recessed, as at 48,and adapted to engage the knots of the checkwire. During the forwardmovement of the machine the knots or buttons on the checkrow wire 42will engage the curved or recessed ends of the fingers 47 at theextremity of the check-rower lever 45 and move said lever back at anangle until the knots are released from the curved or recessed ends ofthe fingers 47, the check-wire being held in place between said fingersduring the movement of the lever 45 by the intermediate arched web orbrace 36. During this backward movement of the lever 45 motion will beimparted to the operating-shaft through the medium of devices which willnow be explained.

A series of bearing or journal boxes 48 project inwardly from thetransverse bar 10 of the framework and the lateral extensions 29 of saidbar for the reception of a trans: verse shaft 49, having crank-arms 50at its respective ends, and with these crank-arms the check-rower levers45 are connected by means of pitmen 51. The shaft 49 is also providedbetween its ends with a crank-arm 52, with which one end of a spring53,Fig. 3, is attached, the other end of said spring being attached tothe tongue B or to the frame of the machine, said spring serving toreturn the check-rower lever 45 to its normal position after it has beenmoved backwardly, as above explained.

A bracket 54 is secured to one of the side bars a of the main frame, andto the arms of this bracket guides 55 are secured for the accommodationof a sliding bar 56, to which latter motion is imparted by means of apitman 57,'attached, respectively, to one end of said sliding bar and acrank-arm 58 on the shaft 49. A ratchet-wheel 59 is secured tooperating-shaft 26 at a point between the arms of the bracket 54 andimmediately under the sliding bar 56. Aicurved dog 60 is pivoted to thesliding bar 56 and adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, soas to turn the operating-shaft when motion is imparted in one directionto said sliding bar and cause the operation of the feeding mechanism todischarge a few grains of corn, this sliding movement of the bar 56being accomplished by the backward movement of the check-rower lever 45when the latter engages a button or knot of the check-row wire 42.Retrograde movement of the, ratchet-wheel and the operating-shaft towhich it is attached will be prevented by the engagement of a dog Whenthe grain leaves thefeeding mechanism under the hoppers, it falls onvalve at the upper ends of the bodyportions l of the legs F, and whenthese Valves are opened the grain falls onto valves 66 at the lower endsof said body portions 1 of the legs, from which latter valves the grainis discharged into the furrow. These valves are operated simultaneouslyin reverse directions, so that when the upper ones are opened the lowerones are closed, and vice versa. To accomplish this, a shaft 67 ismounted in lugs 68, projecting from the upper ends of the pertions lotthe legs F and provided with bellcrank levers 69, the arm 70 of eachbell-crank lever being attached to one of the upper valves 65 and thearm 71 being connected, through the medium of a rod 72, with an arm 73on the shaft or support of the lowervalve 66.

The shaft 67, which extends transversely across the machine, is providedat a point between its ends with acrank-arm 74, and this crank arm isconnected by means of a rod 75 with a crank-arm 76 on the transverseshaft 49.

From this construction and arrangement of parts above described it willbe seen that when the check-rower levers 45 are moved backwardly byengagement with the knots of the wire 42 motion will be transmittedsimultaneously to the operating-shaft 26 and the valve-shaft 67,resulting in the discharge of discharged from the valve 66 into thefurrow IIO Thus it will other grain will be on their way through the legto take the place on the valve 66 (when the latter again closes) of thegrains which had been planted. The valves 66 immediately close afterdischarging the grain, and as soon as the upper valve 65 has dischargedits corn a new supply of a few grains will be discharged onto it fromthe hopper by the feeding mechanism.

I will now explain the construction and arrangement of the deviceswhereby the machine can be operated as a drill.

A plate 77 is secured to the bars a f at one side of the frame A in rearof the axle, and this plate is provided with arms 78, having bearingsfor a shaft 79. The shaft 79 is made in two parts connected together bymeans of a clutch 80, the parts of which are held together by means of aspring 81. The clutch is adapted to be operated by a pivoted lever 82,and the parts of the clutch will be maintained out of engagement witheach other while the machine is operating as a checkrower by theengagement of a locking-bar on said lever with a notched segment 83. Onesection of the shaft 79 is provided with a gearwheel 84, which receivesmotion from a gearwheel 85 on the hub of one ofthe carryingwheels 0. Theother section of the shaft 7 9 is provided with a cone of gears 86, fromwhich motion can be imparted by a chain 87 to a gear-wheel 88 on theoperating-shaft 26. The gear-wheel 88 is adapted'to transmit motion tothe dropping-shaft 26 and to have a sliding movement thereon, so that itcan be adjusted relatively to the gears of the cone 86 when it isdesired to change the speed of the dropping-shaft. From thisconstruction and arrangement of parts it will be seen that a continuousuninterrupted motion can be imparted to the feeding mechanism wherebythe machine can be made to operate as a drill.

When the drill mechanism is in operation and the machine is given abackward movement, the parts of the clutch would be thrown out of meshand no motion would be imparted to the feeding mechanism.

It will be observed that the planting devices of myimprovedcorn-planting machine are located between the wheels and at or near theaxle. To do this and yet permit the furrow-opener or shoe to be adjustedfor various depths of furrow and for raising it entirely out of theground, I have constructed said shoe or furrow-opener to telescope overthe seed-tubes, thus producing a telescopic leg. This arrangementenables me to dispose of the jointed arrangement of framework heretoforeemployed between the part of the planter supporting the droppingmechanism and the Wheels, and in place of such jointed frame I employ arigid frame and a solid tongue connection and place the seat for thedriver in such position that the weight of the driver will balance thetongue. With such arrangement the draft of the machine is light. It willalso be observed that my improved check-rower is so arranged that thebutton or knot on the wire operates at the extreme end of thecheck-rower lever, but is held in place until the time for its release,when the immediate discharge of the button or knot from the end of thelever will be permitted.

My improvements are in all respects ef fectual in the performance oftheir functions.

Various slight changes in the details of construction might be madeWithout departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope, andhence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details herein setforth;

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a corn-planter, the combination with a frame, an axle securedthereto and wheels on the axle, of a tongue secured to the front end ofthe frame and to the. axle, a drivers seat over the rear end of theframe and standards secured to said seat, the rear of the frame and theaxle, substantially as set forth.

2. A planting-leg consisting of telescoping sections, one section beinghinged whereby it swings in the arc of a circle when it moves.

3. A planting-leg consisting of a rigid seedtube and a furrow-opener orshoe telescoping over said seed-tube, and a pivotal connection betweensaid seed-tube and furrow-opener or shoe, substantially as set forth.

4. A planting-leg consisting of a fixed seedtube, an arm projectingforwardly therefrom,

a furrow-opener or shoe adapted to telescope over said seed-tube, and anextension on said furrow-opener or shoe pivotally connected. to saidforwardly-projecting arm, substantially as set forth.

5. In a planter, the combination with a frame, of a planting-legconsisting of a rigid seed-tube, a shoe telescoping over the lower endthereof, a forwardly-projecting arm on the seed-tube pivoted to anextension of the shoe, and a brace extending from the free end of saidarm and the frame, substantially as set forth.

6. In a corn-planter, the combination with a frame, of a planting-legconsisting of a rigid section and a telescoping section, a rock-shaftmounted on the frame and having a crankarm, a connection between saidcrank-arm and the telescopic section of the leg, an opcrating-leversecured to said rock-shaft and alocking device for said operating-lever,substantially as set forth.

7. In a corn-planter, the combination with a planting-leg comprising arigid and a telescopic section, of brackets secured to the telescopicsection, an arm pivoted between said brackets, pintles at the free endof said arm, covering-disks on said pintles, and slotted bars connectingsaid pintle with the telescopic section, substantially as set forth.

8. In a corn-planter, the combination with a planting-leg comprising arigid and a tele* scopic section, of an arm adjustably connected withthe telescopic section and having inclined pintles, and inclinedcoveringdisks mounted on said pintles, substantially as set forth.

9. In a corn-planter, the combination with a frame, feed mechanism, anda shaft adapted to transmit motion to said feed mechanism of acheck-rower lever, a ratchetwheel on said shaft, a sliding bar, a dog onsaid sliding bar adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel, and connectionsbetween said sliding bar and the check-rower lever, substantially as setforth.

10. In a corn-planter, the combination with a frame, feed mechanism, ashaft adapted to transmit motion to the feed mechanism and a tween saidsliding bar and said check-rower lever, a dog pivoted to the sliding barfor transmitting motion to the ratchet-wheel,

and another dog pivoted to the frame and adapted to prevent retrogrademovement of the ratchet-wheel and shaft, substantially as set forth. I

11. In a corn-planter, the combination with a frame, feed mechanism, ashaft to transmit motion to the feed mechanism, and a check-rower lever,of a ratchet-wheel on the shaft, a sliding bar, a dog attached to thesliding bar and adapted to propel the ratchetwheel, and a plate or armon the sliding bar adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel and prevent itfrom being turned too far, substantiallyas set forth.

12. In a corn-planter, the combination with a frame, feed mechanism, ashaft for transmitting motion to said feed mechanism, and a check-rowerlever, of a ratchet-wheel on said shaft and having peripheral teeth onone face, a sliding bar, connections between said sliding bar and thecheck-rower lever, a dog attached to the sliding bar and adapted toengage the peripheral teeth of the ratchet-wheel, to propel it, a dogpivoted to the frame and adapted to engage the side teeth of theratchet-wheel to prevent retrograde movement thereof, and a plate or armsecured to the sliding bar and adapted to engage said side teeth of theratchet-wheel to prevent the same from being turned too far,substantially as set forth.

13. In a corn-planter, the combination with a frame, feed mechanism, ashaft to transmit motion to the feed mechanism, and a pivotedcheck-rower lever, of a ratchet-wheel on said shaft, a sliding bar, adog pivoted to the sliding bar and engaging the ratchet-wheel, acrank-shaft mounted on the frame, a pitman between the crank-shaft andthe sliding bar, and a pitman between the crank-shaft and thecheck-rower lever, substantially as set forth. I

14. The combination with a frame, an axle, wheels on the axle,grain-feeding mechanism, and a feed-shaft, of a counter-shaft made insections, a clutch between said sections, gearing between one section ofthe shaft and one of the wheels, a cone of gears on the other section ofthe counter-shaft, an adjustable gear on the feed-shaft and a chainpassing over said adjustable gear and one of the gears of the cone,substantially as set forth.

15. In a planter, the combination with a frame, an axle, wheels on theaxle, a seedhopper, feed mechanism and a feed-shaft, of a plate securedto the frame and having arms provided with bearings, a two-partcountershaft mounted in said bearings, a clutch between the sections ofthe counter-shaft and adapted to yield when retrograde motion istransmitted to one section of the shaft, a spring bearing against onesection of the clutch, a lever attached to said clutch, gearing betweenone section of the counter-shaft and one of the wheels, and gearingbetween ,the other section of the counter-shaft and the ing witnesses.

JOHN G. COURTNEY.

' IVitnesses P. S. KEMPTON, FRANK WHITING.

